Social Worker Salary: What to Expect
Social workers play a pivotal role in society, advocating for vulnerable populations, providing support to individuals and families in crisis, and promoting social justice. Despite the significant impact they have on communities, social worker salaries don't always reflect the importance and complexity of their work. The good news is that there are many ways to position yourself in the social work field in order to gain more experience and higher pay.
How Are Salaries Determined for Social Workers?
Many individuals not in the social work career field automatically assume that social workers don’t make a viable income. While this can be true in some entry-level positions, many variables decide exactly how much a social worker will make, including social work education, social work licensure, specialization, and location.
Salary by Experience, Degree, and Licensure
One of the primary ways someone employed in social work can determine how much they will make is by their degree level and whether or not they’re licensed. These distinctions decide whether or not an individual can be called a “social worker” or not. In the majority of states, those who don’t have a Master of Social Work (MSW) or higher cannot be licensed and, therefore, cannot be called a social worker. Generally speaking, entry-level social work positions pay an average of $68,477 per year. In most cases, Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) graduates will earn a salary in this general ballpark.
Once you’ve earned your MSW and become licensed, you can expect a slightly higher pay. According to the same source, you can expect an average of $93,727 once you’ve become licensed and slightly more if you’ve earned a doctorate of social work degree.
Find out How to Become a Social Worker.
Salary by Specialty
One of the great things about MSW programs and social work graduate certificates is that they often offer a variety of specializations. Depending on which one you pick, you may make more than if you had chosen to get a generalized practice degree. Here are a few examples of the differences in pay when it comes to social work specializations.
- Mental Health Social Worker – $66,000
- Child Welfare Social Worker – $59,190
- Private Practice Social Worker – $68,832
- Administrative Social Worker – $47,810
Salary by Employer Type
Securing higher pay doesn’t just depend on what type of social worker you are; it also depends on where you work as a social worker. In most cases, working in a private practice will allow you to choose exactly how much you make, but there are many high-paying options if you decide to work in:
- Mental health facilities
- Hospitals
- Government agencies
Salary by Location
As with many other types of occupations, some areas pay social workers better than others, especially if there’s a higher-than-average need for social workers and not enough professionals in the area to fill the demand. Here are the top five states for social worker salaries according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):
- District of Columbia – $94,250
- New Hampshire – $93,910
- Rhode Island – $93,520
- Oklahoma – $91,090
- Washington – $90,580
Social Worker Job Outlook & Employment Projections
According to the BLS, there isn’t a better time to become a social worker. The social work field is projected to grow around 7% between 2023 and 2032. Because there is plenty of room for social workers to advance in the field, this translates favorably to social work salaries.
Social Worker vs. Psychologist vs. Counselor: Which Salary is Right for You?
To get a sense of how a social worker’s pay compares to other mental health professionals’ wages, such as psychologist salaries and counselor salaries, check out the table below:
| Social Worker | Psychologist | Counselor | |
| Median Annual Wage | $55,350 | $81,040 | $45,160 |
| Highest Paying Industry | Private Practice | Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | Marriage Counselor |
| Top Paying State | D.C. | California | New Jersey |
| Job Growth Outlook | 7% | 19% | 10% |
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